Neural Agonist-Antagonist Coupling in the Absence of Mechanical Coupling after Targeted Muscle Reinnervation

Following limb amputation and targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR), nerves supplying agonist and antagonist muscles are rerouted into separate targeted muscles, disrupting natural neuromechanical coupling between muscle groups. Using high-density intramuscular microelectrode arrays in reinnervated muscles, we show that neural signals for agonist and antagonist tasks remain functionally coupled: motor units active during agonist tasks were also recruited during corresponding antagonist tasks, despite no visual feedback on coactivation being provided.